Summer vacation has finally arrived! The days are long and your family is likely looking forward to weeks of sunshine, camp, swimming, and relaxation.
While September might feel like a lifetime away right now, the beginning of summer is actually the best time to think about the upcoming school year. At Tier Pediatrics, we want your children to enjoy every single second of their summer break—and that means ensuring they are fully protected against preventable illnesses well before the first school bell rings.
By checking vaccines off your to-do list now, you can beat the chaotic late-August rush and give your child’s immune system plenty of time to build strong, lasting protection before they step back into the classroom.
Setting the Record Straight: Our Commitment to You
We understand that making healthcare decisions for your child can feel overwhelming. With so much conflicting information circulating online, it is easy for parents to feel anxious or skeptical about vaccinations.
Back in August 2024, we published a blog post addressing a widespread piece of misinformation: the claim that pediatric offices push vaccines to drive up “bottom-line revenue growth.” Because this myth still circulates today, we want to reiterate the facts with absolute transparency.
Tier Pediatrics is a community-focused practice. Our patient base consists of 60% Medicaid, 38% Private Insurance, and 2% Self-Pay/Sliding Fee patients. The modest administration fees we receive from insurance providers go directly toward purchasing private vaccines for our clinic and covering basic operational costs. We do not receive financial bonuses or incentives from insurance companies or vaccine manufacturers based on our vaccination rates.
Put simply: We do not profit from vaccinating your children. Our only incentive is, and always will be, keeping your child safe, healthy, and thriving.
Think of Vaccines as an “Immune System Update”
A helpful way to think about vaccines is to view them as a necessary software update for your child’s immune system. Just like updating your phone protects it from new bugs and security threats, a vaccine teaches your child’s body how to recognize and fight off serious, real-world diseases—like measles, mumps, and whooping cough—without having to get sick first.
It is completely normal to worry about side effects. However, vaccines undergo rigorous safety and efficacy testing before they ever reach our clinic. While some children may experience mild, short-lived responses like a sore arm or a low-grade fever, these are actually positive signs that the immune system is successfully building its defense. The profound protection these “updates” offer far outweighs the risks of the dangerous diseases they prevent.
Staying Compliant, Staying Safe
Keeping your child up-to-date on their vaccine schedule is also a community effort. It helps build “herd immunity,” which protects vulnerable infants, elderly grandparents, and immunocompromised children who cannot receive certain vaccines.
Furthermore, staying on track ensures your child complies with New York State School Immunization Requirements. Taking care of these appointments in June or July guarantees that your child won’t face administrative delays, letting them start the first day of school right alongside their friends.
We Are Here to Listen
If you have questions, doubts, or fears about vaccines, please don’t hesitate to bring them to us. We don’t want you to feel judged; we want you to feel informed and confident. We encourage all parents to look to reliable, evidence-based medical organizations for information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Let’s get the paperwork out of the way so you can enjoy a stress-free summer. Call Tier Pediatrics today to schedule your child’s summer wellness visit and vaccine update!
